Pacific Trade Talks Aren't Secretive, Kirk Tells Critics

Law360, New York (May 10, 2012, 2:57 PM EDT) -- U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk on Thursday issued a scathing response to a letter by a group of intellectual property law professors who criticized the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations as overly secretive, saying the TPP negotiations have involved an abundance of public outreach efforts.

Kirk said the TPP negotiations, the 12th round of which are under way in Dallas, have involved more active outreach to stakeholders than any prior free trade agreement, including to those concerned with intellectual property issues.